New Victoria road safety laws came into effect on Tuesday making it obligatory for overseas driver licence holders in Victoria, regardless of their visa status, to have converted their licence to a local licence within six months of their taking up residence in Victoria.
Temporary visa holders currently continue to drive on Victoria’s roads using their overseas licence until they get permanent residency, however they will now be required to convert their licence within six months from 29 October.
Interstate drivers and overseas drivers from 26 recognised countries who are eligible to convert their licences without needing to pass a driving test will have six months to do so.
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International drivers who fail to do so will face tougher laws and will be considered to be driving unlicensed if they are caught.
The Department of Transport issued an explanatory statement regarding the tougher procedures: “Employers will also need to make sure that drivers they employ with international licences have not been residing here for more than 6 months. If they do not check this, they could be committing a serious offence by allowing an unlicensed person to drive.”
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